The serac avalanche that killed 16 men last month on Everest was the largest, single-event, loss of life in Everest’s history and it has sparked political mobilization among the Sherpa people. Anger and sadness have reverberated throughout the climbing community across two continents and resulted in a massive fundraising campaign by Outside magazine Senior Editor Grayson Schaffer and National Geographic photographer Aaron Huey.

They raised $425,000 in just eight days.

Schaffer and Huey recruited a group of 10 climbing photographers to sell $100 prints of Everest that have been published in National Geographic and Outside. The flash sale was so successful that they have reopened the sale until midnight Sunday, May 11. Click Here to see the prints for sale and/or make a donation.

The climbing center has become an important part of Sherpa guide training, which recognizes that guiding is lucrative but dangerous work for mountain communities. A certificate from KCC has become a sort of union card for guides. The school employs over 17 Nepali instructors, one of whom Ang Kaji Sherpa, died in the April 18 avalanche. A number of other victims also attended KCC, notes Jennifer Lowe-Anker, co-founder of the ACLF.

When word of the death toll reached Huey, he and Schaffer spent three sleepless days pulling together photographers and assembling the website. “The question was not do I do this, but how do I do this,” said Cory Richards, accomplished mountaineer and NatGeo photographer. “Photos made it more than just an ask, it made it an offer,” says Huey. Instead of throwing money into a fund, donors get a striking piece of art that represents a community that needs support.

Some of the most well-known names in alpine photography have lent their wares to this sale, including Richards who has been to Nepal over a dozen times and worked closely with Ang Kaji at the climbing center. Richards was also on the 2012 NatGeo Everest expedition and passed under this serac several times, commenting, “There’s a reason Conrad [Anker] calls the icefall the ‘ballroom of death’.”

Huey said he would like to see changes made on Everest to provide more safety for native guides. Barring removal of all commercial guiding expeditions, he thinks “better pay, better insurance, and better education,“ are the best ways to support them.

Richards sees this fund as a way to show their friends that “their value cannot be equated the value of the Everest industry,” which yields the government over $3.3 million a year in permits alone. “It’s time to get organized and get political,” he said.

And that they have.

When the Nepali government offered families of deceased climbers about USD$400 for funeral expenses the Sherpas remaining at base camp went on strike. Their demands included an increase in the amount paid to families of the deceased to $1,000, a $10,000 payment to severely injured staff unable to return to work, 30 percent of royalties collected by the government from all western permits to create a relief fund, double the amount of insurance to mountaineering workers, a guaranteed salary for the rest of this season even if they choose not to continue working, and a memorial park to honor the deceased in Kathmandu.

In late April the Nepali government agreed to meet a majority of these demands.

May 01, 2014

Part of an ongoing series exploring the Sierra Club's archives, because with such a long, rich history we don't throw back, we throw way back.

Chiura Obata is known for his striking Sierra landscapes and bald depictions of internment camps. Despite a tumultuous, life this master never stopped teaching others. Born in Sendai, Japan in 1885, Obata moved to California in 1903 and continued to paint using the sumi technique he had learned at home. His signature ink brush illustrations of Yosemite would become his legacy.

A trip to Yosemite in 1927 would introduce him to the landscape that would become the focus of his future work. He became an art professor at UC Berkeley in 1939, where he would teach Gary Snyder, a man known more for his artistry with words than a brush.

After the attacks on Pearl Harbor, Obata and his family were "evacuated" to an internment camp in 1942. During this period Obata continued to teach others and produce his own works. Putting out a call for help from his Bay Area community, he raised funds for art classes, supplies and exhibitions for fellow prisoners. His haunting depictions of his imprisonment can be seen in Topaz Moon, a collection of his sketches, woodblocks and paintings from that time.

After his release he joined the Sierra Club on their high trips and captured the “Great Nature” on his canvasses.

Obata held painting demonstrations during these trips, passing on his unique perspective of the iconic sceneries.

Check out some of his paintings today and consider bringing painting supplies on that next hike.

-- images courtesy of the Sierra Club Archives. Taken by Cedric Wright in the 1950s.

-- Special thanks to Ellen Byrne, Sierra Club Librarian.

Bianca Hernandezis the Acting Web Editor at Sierra. She recently received her MA in Visual Anthropology from the University of Southern California and has written for various publications.

April 29, 2014

We often lose sight of the environment in seeking to conquer it. It’s all too easy to get wrapped up in better gear, tougher trails and higher climbs, and forget what got you out there in the first place. Humans do not seek suffering solely for glory, there has to be some reward to keep us coming back. The same applies to great writing. What makes us reread a sentence? Come back to a poem? We may read hundreds of pages of drivel to discover one nugget of truth; we may hike days in the rain for one hour of sunlight. The great moments are the ones that keep our boots on, our chins up and our spirits high.

What if you could get that feeling by reading a poem? These poems were written in a bygone era and yet they still drive us out of the house. Even now, their words inspire action and ask us to consider our environment. They ask us to take responsibility for and enjoy the Earth. These poets embody the Sierra Club’s motto to “Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet.”

In honor of the conclusion of National Poetry Month here are some poems that will light a fire in the belly of anyone who’s ever been outside.

William Wordsworth’s 1798 poem quickens the heart with frantic pleas. He urges us to quit our books, shut down our laptops and get “Up! Up!”

The sun, above the mountain's head, A freshening lustre mellow Through all the long green fields has spread, His first sweet evening yellow.

Books! 'tis a dull and endless strife: Come, hear the woodland linnet, How sweet his music! on my life, There's more of wisdom in it.

And hark! how blithe the throstle sings! He, too, is no mean preacher: Come forth into the light of things, Let Nature be your Teacher.

She has a world of ready wealth, Our minds and hearts to bless— Spontaneous wisdom breathed by health, Truth breathed by cheerfulness.

One impulse from a vernal wood May teach you more of man, Of moral evil and of good, Than all the sages can.

Sweet is the lore which Nature brings; Our meddling intellect Mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:— We murder to dissect.

Enough of Science and of Art; Close up those barren leaves; Come forth, and bring with you a heart That watches and receives.

As a Sierra Club charter member, Charles Keeler worked to preserve the Berkeley Hills and went on to direct San Francisco's Natural History Museum at the California Academy of Sciences. Keeler bemoans man’s victory over nature and suggests one last conquest.

Man the Conqueror

Charles Keeler

One by one hast thou conquered the elements, masterful man, Taming the stream and electrical spark to thy will, To speed thee o’er land and o’er sea at thy beck and thy nod; Boring like mole through the mountains and under the rivers, Diving like penguin beneath the wild waters and rising To ride on the waves unconcerned by thy triumphs surpassing. Now thou hast mastered the air, and thy ships go careering Skyward to vie with the eagle, by danger undaunted.

What is there left for thy conquest, unsatisfied monarch? What but thyself, Cosmic Caesar, who owns none for master! Of old it was said, “Know thyself,” but I say to thee and further, “Go, conquer thyself” – that will make thee commander-in-chief, With armies of passions rebellious subdued and submissive, A monarch ‘twill make thee, with hopes and with fears for thy subjects; Nay, ‘twill make thee a god, and the world will be thine where thou walkest.

What are your favorite poems? Who inspires you to get outside?

-- top image courtesy of iStock/mothy20

-- Images courtesy of Sierra Club Archives

Caitlin Kauffman is an editorial intern for Sierra. She is a sea kayak and hiking guide in the Bay Area and the Greater Yellowstone area. She enjoys good eye contact and elk burgers.

April 15, 2014

Musical instruments can cost an arm and a leg. Good thing you can make them yourself from cheap materials like nails, tin cans, and dry pasta. Homemade instrument specialist Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, who recently released an e-book and accompanying CD, shared some of her DIY projects, which we've included along with others found online.

Balloon bongo: Kate from the blog Mini Eco created an amazing 3-in-1 instrument using just a few common household items. Fetch those tin cans out of the recycling bin and you’ll soon find yourself with a balloon bongo drum, a rice shaker, and a güiro (a Latin American instrument made from a gourd). Mix it up with different colored rubber bands and balloons.

Sistrum: Sistrums were commonly used by musicians in ancient Egyptian temples, but it’s not too hard to come up with your own modern version (pictured above). All you need are a Y-shaped tree branch or old hanger and a few bottle caps and washers to go in the middle.

Rainstick:This rainstick tutorial from Anna of The Imagination Tree is a little bit more labor-intensive, but the final product will be worth the extra trouble. Small, dry pasta or beans trickle like a rain shower down the nail-ridden tube. Decorate the exterior to add a personal touch.

Australian clapstick. Clapsticks, or bilma, have been used by aboriginal tribes in Australia to keep rhythm during chants. You can make your own version by, well, banging two sticks together. The fun part is engraving and painting them.

--First and third images courtesy of Daria, second image courtesy of Mama Smiles

Jessica Zischke is a former editorial intern at Sierra. She is currently studying environmental studies at Dartmouth College. On campus she works as an editor of Dartbeat, the blog of the student-run newspaper The Dartmouth, and as the Sustainability Chair for her sorority, Alpha Xi Delta.

March 03, 2014

We always like a good excuse to get creative with DIY and upcycled crafts, and March is National Craft Month — the perfect opportunity to get inspired for a full month. Of course, March also symbolizes the coming of spring, so whether your window shows a blanket of snow or the first signs of blossoms, get ready for one of the most beautiful times of year with these bright and colorful crafts from across the web.

Garden hose wreath

There’s a good chance you have an unused garden hose lying around, and this is just the project to turn it into something beautiful. Jill, the blogger behind Create. Craft. Love. and self-proclaimed wreath enthusiast, crafted the wonderful spring-inspired garden hose wreath pictured. Get creative with the embellishments — try out wildflowers or plants from your garden, colorful gloves, or anything else that symbolizes spring to you.

Butterfly wall decor

To spruce up the inside of your home, look no further than this great wall decoration from Susan of the blog Living with Punks. Use any kind of paper lying around your house, and don’t worry if it has something printed on it. This can create a cool look too, and you get a pretty way to use paper that may not have been reused otherwise.

February 24, 2014

You have five more minutes on break and you've already caught up on your Snapchats and tweets, what's left to do? Why not watch some amusing eco-related videos in those last minutes before returning to your desk? Some are funny, artistic or even educational, but they are all worth a watch.

February 11, 2014

Store aisles have been decked out in pink and red hearts since just after New Year’s, but the Valentine’s Day spirit is only just now beginning to permeate the air. Whether you’re giving treats to a significant other, friends, or family, we know that figuring out the right gifts can be hard. On any holiday, it’s the gifts from the heart that are really special, so we’ve scoured the web to find the best DIY and upcycled crafts to show everyone in your life what they mean to you. So break out your creative mind, some chocolates (hey, it fuels the creativity), and get crafting!

1. Photo banner

This banner can be as simple as a few photos cut into heart shapes or any combination of paper and doilies you have lying around. Using photos allows you to personalize this gift for anyone. Lauren Kaczmarski, the woman behind the lifestyle blog Letters from Lala, crafted the adorable Valentine's Day banner pictured above featuring photos, heart doilies, and a favorite quote.

2. String wall art

String art projects have gone viral on Pinterest and the only tool you need to know how to use is a hammer. Janny of crafting blog Que Linda picked up this idea after seeing it all over the blogosphere and created an easy-to-follow guide to make "love" string wall art. This is the perfect idea if you have any spare or broken wood lying around waiting to be used.

January 27, 2014

An estimated 2 billion birds darkened the sky above John James Audubon's head in the autumn of 1813, a flock of passenger pigeons more than 50 miles long that would take three full days to pass out of view. "The birds poured in in countless multitudes," Audubon wrote. "The air was literally filled with pigeons; the light of noonday was obscured as by an eclipse; the dung fell in spots, not unlike melting flakes of snow; and the continued buzz of wings had a tendency to lull my senses to repose."

When Dr. Andrew Stern visits schools to teach children about the now-extinct passenger pigeon, he slowly dims the lights, turning up a radio until the sound of white noise shakes the building.

"It's a little scary," Stern said. "That’s what it was supposed to be like. More [birds] than is imaginable. The fact that they were gone in a little over 50 years is astounding."

January 22, 2014

Most Sierra readers have been toting their own totes for years. Now that more than 100 U.S. cities, including Los Angeles and Seattle, forbid stores from doling out single-use plastic bags (and levy fees on paper ones), it's time for the slackers to sack up as well.—Avital Andrews

Evoke jet-setter nostalgia with this zipper-top Cargo Shoulder Tote from BLUE Q, which donates 1 percent of the proceeds from every purchase to the Nature Conservancy. Each piece Blue Q sells, including this travel-themed looker, is made from 95 percent postconsumer recycled materials—mostly melted-down grain sacks and water bottles. $15

January 13, 2014

Traveling takes time and money, not to mention the waste it produces. Staycations have grown increasingly popular in the past few years, and it’s no secret that staying at home is a greener option than increasing congestion on roads or hopping on a plane. Plus, when you’re vacationing at home, you can go anywhere you’d like. So whether you’re held captive inside your home due to a snow monster rampage (hi, polar vortex) or simply opting for a greener vacation, here are eight different worlds to transform your living room.

Whether you live on the coast or 100 miles from water, it’s easy to bring the ocean into your home. Make a faux-aquarium in your sink with underwater-inspired toys and save broken or leftover paperware from the recycling bin by decorating with hanging paper bowl jellyfish and paper plate fish. For a laugh-filled evening, make portraits of one another in fish form and hang them on the walls. Later, go with the flow and hold a viewing of Finding Nemo (2003) while chowing down on starfish-shaped sandwiches and seaweed salad.

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